Two Israeli F-15 fighters targeted Syria’s T-4 airbase in Homs province, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday. The jets fired eight guided missiles, but five of them were shot down before they hit the airfield.
In a statement on Monday, the Russian military said: “Two Israeli Air Force F-15 jets fired eight guided missiles at the T-4 airfield.” The Israeli aircraft did not enter Syrian airspace and launched the strikes while flying over Lebanon… … …

On February 13, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman once again threatened Syria and Iran commenting on the February 10 encounter between the Israeli Air Force and the Syrian Air Defense Forces resulted in a shootdown of the Israeli F-16I warplane. MORE DETAILS

“There are no restrictions, we do not accept any restrictions. We acted with determination and responded to every provocation. We will continue to defend our vital security interests. To paraphrase the well-known proverb, “This is not the time to bark, but to bite.” We are bitten hard, I hope we do not have to do it,” Liberman said on a visit to the Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona adding that Tel Aviv “acted with determination” during the Feburary 10 military engagement with Syria.

The Syrian Army Air Defense air defense confronted a new Israeli aggression on one of the military positions in the central area and hit more than one aircraft.

A military source said that the Israeli enemy on Saturday dawn launched a new aggression against one of the military bases in the central area, and the Syrian army air defense confronted the aggression and hit more than one aircraft.

The Israeli aggression came after the Army General Command announced that the Syrian Arab Army eradicated Daesh (ISIS) terrorist organization and the groups affiliated to it from large areas in the pocket extending from the southeast of Khanaser in Aleppo countryside to the west of Sinjar in Idleb countryside to the north of al-Sa’an in Hama countryside… … …

The Syrian Air Force destroyed two bases for Daesh (ISIL, ISIS, Islamic State terrorist organization) that contained reconnaissance drones, vehicles, and weapons in the eastern countryside of Homs province.

A Syrian military source said that the Syrian Air Force carried out concentrated airstrikes on positions for Daesh in Khatamlo and Oum Twaina (in the eastern countryside of Homs) resulting in destroying a base containing reconnaissance drones and equipment in Khatamlo and a base containing four tanks, a rocket cache, and artillery shells in Oum Twaina, killing all the terrorists inside the bases.

Iran, Turkey and Russia have signed a memorandum on the creation of four security zones in Syria during another round of the peace talks in Astana on May 4.

According to the document, security zones were proposed in the province of Idlib, in the area north of the city of Homs, in Eastern Ghouta near Damascus and in southern Syria.

“Guarantors within five days after signing the memorandum will create a working group at the level of authorized representatives to determine the boundaries of disarmament, areas of tension and security areas, as well as to address technical issues related to the implementation of the memorandum,” the text of the document reads.

All technical issues, including borders of the zones, should be solved until May 22. The next round of the Astana peace talks will take place in mid-July when the trilateral group will report about the process of the reconciliation.

If the initiative achieves at least partly success, this will likely mean that in May or June the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allied forces, backed up by Russia and Iran, will launch a large operation against ISIS (ISIL, Daesh) in central Syria, aiming to reach the key city of Deir Ezzor besieged by ISIS. However, these will be possible only if the situation near Damascus, Daraa and Homs will be calm.

The SAA, led by the 105th Brigade of the Republican Guard, stormed the remaining militant defense lines in the southeastern part of the Qaboun district in eastern Damascus and captured a number of buildings from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Al-Rahman Corps……………………….

Syrian Air Defense shots down one of 4 Israeli warplanes targeting military site near Palmyra.

The General Command of the Army and the Armed Forced announced on Friday that the Syrian air defense downed one of four Israeli warplanes that violated the Syrian airspace and targeted a military site in the eastern countryside of Homs.

According to a statement by the Command, the four Israeli aircrafts violated the Syrian airspace in al-Breij area through the Lebanese territories at 2:40 am.

The Israeli warplanes targeted a military site near Palmyra in the eastern countryside of Homs, said the Army’s Command, confirming that the Syria air defense forces confronted the enemy’s aircrafts and shot down one of them inside the occupied territories, hit another and forced the other two to withdraw.

Do not believe the Zionist lies. Their aircraft were not targeting a convoy of trucks carrying ground-to-ground missiles bound for Hizbollah bases in the Lebanon.

In fact, the bombers were targeting Syrian Army operations near Palmyra, specifically those having to do with removal of rats from oil and gas fields which ISIS desperately needs to keep its cash flow viable…………
…REPORTS…

Israeli missiles have bombed the Mezzeh military airport west of Damascus, and the Syrian Army has accused Israel of supporting terrorism, according to SANA, a Syrian state news agency. ~ According to the report, Israeli missiles caused a large fire. So far no one has been reported dead or injured. ~ Several videos uploaded to twitter show a massive raging fire and what sounds like gunfire. The attack happened less than five miles away from Syrian President Bashar Assad’s palace. ~ The Syrian Army has reported that the attack took place from northern Israel firing several missiles from Lake Tiberias according to RT. ~ The Syrian Arab Army has also promised there will be retaliation for the acts of aggression and said that there will be repercussions for Israel for the “flagrant attack” on the military base, state TV reported, citing a Syrian army command spokesman. It also linked the alleged strike to Israel’s “support of terrorist groups”. ~ Tensions have been building up between Syria and Israel the last couple months. ~ This is the second time in two months that Israel has attacked Syria. On Dec. 7, SANA reported that “several surface-to-surface missiles” were launched by the Israeli Defense Forces from Golan Heights. ~ “At 3 a.m., the Israeli enemy fired several surface-to-surface missiles from inside occupied territory”, SANA. ~ Israel, through it lobbyist and other influence, runs American foreign policy. It’s more likely to be The Mossad calling the shots. They don’t need to worry about Trump, though. Throughout his campaign, just like all those before him, he had to kiss Israel’s ace. (Submitted by “The Old Sniper”).

The [Syrian Air Forces] Mezzeh airport near Damascus was rocked by multiple explosions. The Syrian Arab Army has warned that there will be repercussions for Israel for the ‘flagrant attack’ on the military base. It also linked the alleged strike to Israel’s ‘support of terrorist groups.’

The Syrian Army’s air force kills a number of terrorists and destroys their vehicles in Khan al-Assal, Kafr Naha, Urom Sughra and Kubra, Rashideen 4 and 5 and Daret Ezza in Aleppo and its countryside.

A military source said that army units in cooperation with the supporting forces and allies advanced further in Aleppo’s western countryside by regaining control over al-Hikma School to the west of 1070 Apartments residential project to the west of the military academies. The source said that the operations resulted in inflicting losses in personnel and equipment on terrorists, most of whom were from Jabhat al-Nusra, and that army units and supporting forces are continuing to advance and are pursuing terrorists in the direction of al-Rashideen 4, killing and injuring dozens of terrorists.

Syrian Arab Army and Syrian Armed Forces units shot down 14 RC drones used by terrorists which were on a reconnaissance mission and targeted a number of military positions, according to a military source.

Syria Arab Army and Armed Forces units, aided by popular defense groups, thwarted an attempt by terrorist organizations to attack a number of military posts to the east of Hadar town in the northern countryside of Quneitra province.
A military source on Wednesday said that army units clashed with the terrorists who had attacked in large numbers, and the clashes resulted in killing scores of the attacking terrorists, most of them affiliated to Jabhat al-Nusra, and in destroying their vehicles, some of which were equipped with heavy machineguns..>>>….

We had expected a Syrian Army “Election Campaign”, a large size attack on Al Bab or east-Aleppo. That did not happen despite the right “assets” being in place and I have heard no reason yet why it was delayed.

The Russian aircraft carrier group, which was expected last Friday along the Syrian coast, will only arrive this evening. It must have intentionally slowed its travel. There has been no single Syrian or Russian airstrike on east-Aleppo in last 21 days.

“Rebel” shelling of west-Aleppo has not stopped for a day and caused many casualties. That will now change. One Russia source claims the Russian fleet will engage immediately. NOTAMs, NOtices To Air Men, about imminent operations on Syria’s west-coast have been released.

The declared areas and times of operation correspond to a campaign, not a single strike.

The Syrian capital is safe for now and its people can live a rather normal life without fear of being killed in the next minute by some random grenade.

A significant number of troops will become available when all the small rebel areas around the capital are gone. Those can be used in future campaigns.

The frontline strength of the Syrian army in critical areas will increase and its maneuver force will become more powerful and efficient….>>>…

Turkish jets have reportedly not taken part in the Euphrates Shield operation in neighboring Syria for a week now over the fears of being shot down by local air defenses after Damascus promised to prevent any aerial incursions.

Ankara halted air support for its ground incursion into Syria on October 22, after Damascus vowed to shoot down Turkish Air Force planes over Syrian skies, a Turkish official told the Hürriyet Daily News on condition of anonymity. The official added that the coalition forces have also decreased the number of flights in northern Syria.

Syria’s air defense capabilities have been widely boosted after Russia deployed its mobile S-400 and S-300 missile batteries earlier this year to protect its personnel on the ground. Russian hardware has the ability to shoot down planes and cruise missiles over at least 250 miles (402km) in all directions from western Syria.

A Russian military source announced on Friday that Russia sent an additional number of bombers to the Hmeimim air base in Lattakia.

Izvestia daily quoted the source as saying that an extra number of Su-24 and Su-34 bombers has been sent to Hmeimim base, used by the Russian Air Force in the fight against terrorism in Syria.

Su-25 fighter-bombers have been prepared to head for Syria, the source added.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stressed on Thursday that Russia will continue fighting terrorists and supporting the Syrian army in this regard.

The Russian Air Force started operations in Syria on September 30th, 2015 upon a request from the Syrian state. The Russian strikes have hit thousands of targets, destroying positions, equipment, vehicles, facilities and tanker trucks transporting stolen oil.

Terrorists’ strongholds in seven different regions in Northern Hama came under 75 air raids by the Russian and Syrian fighter jets on Friday.

The Russian and Syrian Air Forces carried out over 75 airstrikes above the terrorist-controlled villages of Souran, Taybat Al-Imam, Helfaya, Kawkab, Ma’an, Morek and Karrah.

Despite the terrorist attacks against the Syrian armed forces, their Allies, and against the Civilian Population, despite the hostile actions of Israel, Turkey, Saudi and American allies, despite the knocking media propaganda that mystifies all news (accusing our armed forces and Allies for crimes they never committed), the brave Syrian army and the heroic Syrian people, together with Russians, Iranians and Hezbollah allied friends, continue the advance to regain the entire Syrian territory from the hands of the foreign-backed mercenary-terrorist, which are eliminated by the hundreds all over Syria.
Syria is, and always will be, tomb and stumbling block for all his enemies, close or distant that they are. (SyrianPatriots)

***In Homs, the Syrian Army Air Force destroyed Jabhat al-Nusra and ISIS positions, weapons, vehicles and cars equipped with machineguns and killed a number of terrorists in Tair Ma’leh, Talbiseh, al-Rastan, Kisin, east of Palmyra and al-Sawaneh in the countryside of Homs.

***In Daraa, a Syrian army unit carried out concentrated bombardments against dens and fortifications of Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists in Bosra al-Sham City in the countryside of Daraa southern province. A unit of the army destroyed a den of the terrorist organizations, and killed a number of terrorists in the area of the eastern corniche in Bosra al-Sham City, 40 km to the east of Daraa City.

***In Aleppo, Syrian Army units established control over al-Asmedah Building, located in the area surrounding al-Ramhosa to the southwest of Aleppo city.
A battlefield reporter pointed out that the army clashed heavily with terrorists of “Jaish al-Fatah” who were positioned in the Building, destroying a gathering and a site for the terrorists and setting up military points in the area surrounding it.
The reporter added that during the clashes, a number of members of “Jaish al-Fatah” were killed, others were injured and their weaponry and ammunition were destroyed.
The Syrian Army Air Force targeted the terrorists’ positions in al-Shakif area and in the villages of Kafer Hamara, Ma’rata and Karasi in the northern and southern countryside of Aleppo province. A number of terrorists were killed in the air strikes and their vehicles were destroyed, some of which are armored or equipped with machineguns.
In Aleppo city, the army units carried out precise operations, destroying terrorists’ hotbeds, gatherings and vehicles in the neighborhoods of Hanano, Jabal Bader and al-Marjeh… … …

The Foreign and Expatriates Ministry on Tuesday sent two letters to the UN Secretary General and the Security Council’s Head on the recent Israeli aggression, considering it as “a desperate attempt to boost the deteriorating morale of the terrorist organizations after the losses inflicted upon them by the Syrian army in Quneitra Countryside and across Syria.

“Within the framework of its direct support to terrorists, Israel launched a series of flagrant attacks on the Syrian territory and the Armed Forces during the past few weeks,” said the Ministry, adding that these attacks came in line with the strategic alliance between the Zionist entity and the armed terrorist groups, particularly Jabhat al-Nusra (Fateh al-Sham).

The Ministry noted that the Syrian government has informed the UN Secretary General and Head of the UN Security Council about the ongoing Israeli aggressions on Syria.

“In the early morning of Tuesday 13th, 2016, the Israeli enemy’s air force attacked Syrian military positions in the countryside of the southern Quneitra province. The Syrian air defense forces responded to the attack and shot down an Israeli warplane to the southwest of Quneitra and an Israeli drone to the west of Sa’sa’ town in the southwestern countryside of Damascus. There is no doubt that the Israeli attack came in support of the armed terrorist groups and in a desperate attempt to raise the deteriorating morale of their members due to the heavy losses they have suffered in the countryside of Quneitra and across Syria,” added the Ministry in its letters… … …

An Israeli warplane and a drone have been shot down by Syrian forces in the southern Quneitra countryside, Golan Heights, the Syrian Army said in a statement.

It comes after the Israeli military targeted Syrian positions in the Golan Heights. Syria’s military said it shot down Israeli aircraft at 01:00 local time on Tuesday in response to an attack on Syrian Army positions.

“Our air defenses blocked the attack and shot down the military aircraft in [the southern province of] Quneitra [Golan Heights] and a drone”, a statement from the ministry said.

It noted that the Israeli attack came in support of the armed terrorist groups and in a desperate attempt to raise the deteriorating morale of their members due to the heavy losses they have suffered in Quneitra.

In a statement, the General Command said that the truce is applied across Syria for seven days as of 19:00 on September 12th 2016 and until 23:59 on September 18th, adding that at the same time the army has the right to respond decisively using all types of firepower to any breach by armed groups.

Later in the night, a military source stated that armed groups breached the truce regime by targeting with sniper fire residential buildings in the Justice Palace area at 19:27 pm and by firing three mortar rounds al-Mallah area in Aleppo at 20:33 pm… … …

The information revolution that began with the explosion of computing technology in the 1970s has transformed the face of warfare. Whereas in the past wars were waged by sizable military forces which sought decision by closing with the enemy and destroying him, including through close interpersonal combat, these days such actions are rare.

The cost of modern weapons means that military forces are far smaller, and their lethality means that risking exposure to enemy fire is tantamount to suicide. Instead, the recent conflicts in Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen have been characterized by the warring sides attempting to destroy opposing forces or to compel them to withdraw through the application of firepower, rather than close action.

Since fire predominates over shock action, it is crucial that the power of increasingly accurate and long-ranged weapons be appropriately directed. This gave the rise to what Soviet-era military theorists were referring to as the “reconnaissance-strike complex”, or the fusion of sensors and weapons systems to enable accurate fire-in-depth against every echelon of the enemy battle order, from the front-line troops, all the way back to strategic command and control centers.

This concept is referred to in the West as ISTAR, or Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance.

Since jihadist formations make extensive use of electronics, down to and including smart phones, they have a sizable electronic footprint which can be effectively exploited, and the numerous deaths of senior jihadist leaders, the bombing of training camps, headquarters, munitions depots, and supply columns owed a great deal of its effectiveness to timely intelligence information which came from many sources, with the Tu-214R’s capabilities playing a crucial role… … …

We can safely say it was the longest 5 hours yet of the Syrian War. So far the largest number of terrorists in a single attack around 5,000 terrorists belonging to 22 different terrorist groups coming from Idlib via Khan Touman attacked SAA’s positions in the Southwestern Countryside of Aleppo from 5 axes.

While terrorists under siege inside the Eastern side of Aleppo mobilized to attack the back of the defending troops against terrorists coming from Idlib.

Units of the Syrian Arab Army and allies maneuvered around the Artillery Academy. Anti-Armor units destroyed all terrorists suicide trucks before reaching their destination thus preventing terrorists from opening a hole in SAA’s defenses.

SyAAF and RuAF conducted non-stop airstrikes against advancing terrorists and their supply convoys. Also, conducted airstrikes near the SAA points at a very low altitude ~200 meters.

At the same time, mercenary-terrorist commanders meet in Gaziantep and Ankara to discuss Aleppo strategy.

“The gang members who seek to come up with a new strategy about the siege on Aleppo are holding meetings in Gaziantep and Ankara under the supervision of the MIT and the police units. The meeting in Gaziantep is still continuing at Hampton by Hilton. Drastic security measures have been taken around the hotel.”

Over Kerry’s Head: Why Russia is Delivering Its Upgraded Su-24M2s to Syria.

The Syrian Air Force has received its first two upgraded Sukhoi Su-24M2 all-weather attack aircraft from Russian armories. According to media reports, they are expected to improve the combat capabilities of Syrian air power in the fight against the terrorists. However, according to experts, Moscow and Damascus may also have a hidden motive.

“What difference does it make if it’s Russian or Syrian pilots at the controls of the Su-24s? The main thing is that the bombs drop on their designated targets. If the Syrians begin using the upgraded bombers, will it be difficult to figure out who blew up another camp of ‘moderate’ rebels – Russian or Syrian air power? Damascus, unlike Moscow, is not conducting any negotiations with Washington, and consistently calls all armed opposition in Syria ‘terrorists’.”

“After Russia actively got involved in the Syrian conflict, Moscow also simultaneously began activities to restore the Syrian Armed Forces, the Syrian Air Force first and foremost. This included the modernization of the Su-24MK, and their equipment with the SVP-24 special computing subsystem designed to increase bombing precision many times, along with the training of pilots and maintenance personnel.”

The Security Council of the Russian Federation (SCRF) affirmed on Tuesday that the Russian Aerospace Forces helped in eliminating around 28,000 terrorists in Syria and that the Russian operation in Syria is conducted according to accurate military plan.

In a press statement on the sidelines of a high-level international security meeting held in Grozny city, Deputy Secretary of the SCRF Yevgeny Lukyanov said that the joint Russian-Syrian military operations have helped eliminate 28,000 out of an estimated 80,000 terrorists that make up the ranks of ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists, which means around 35% of the members of the two terrorist organizations, while the US-led international coalition killed only 5,000 terrorists over the last two years.

At the same time, the Syrian Army’s Air Force launched airstrikes against gatherings of ISIS terrorists and movements of their vehicles in the eastern countryside of Palmyra City and in the vicinity of al-Shaer oil field to the northwest of the city in Homs province.

A Syrian jet has been shot down by a surface-to-air missile, most likely with a BGM-71 TOW, an American-made missile launcher, in Aleppo Province, Syrian state TV reported, adding that the pilot ejected.

The pilot of the downed plane has been taken by Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front to one of its bases.

Photos supposedly showing the pilot have also appeared, the comments suggesting he is alive.

The ceasefire in Syria was introduced on February 27. It doesn’t apply to Islamic State (Daesh, IS, ISIS/ISIL), Al-Nusra Front and other organizations designated by the UN’s Security Council as ‘terrorists’.

A total of 97 armed groups operating in Syria have agreed to the ceasefire.

Both IS and Al-Nusra Front jihadists have been intensifying their military action in Syria recently, especially in Aleppo province.

It is now 100% clear: the U.S. are providing MANPADS or other SAMs (surface-to-air-missiles) to the mercenaries of al-Nusra Front and associated terrorist gangs. This is also a way by which the U.S. are testing the Russian anti-missile defense system.
But it will not prevent them from suffering a heavy defeat on the Syrian battlefield, thanks also to the new Russian defense technology.

~

A Syrian Air Force MiG-21US went down near an airfield in Hama province on Saturday. Conflicting reports have emerged over whether the aircraft crashed due to a technical failure, or was downed by jihadist militants; Russian analysts are questioning whether the terrorists now possess anti-aircraft missiles, and whether Russian planes are safe.

From a technical perspective, the types of MANPADS or other SAMs (surface-to-air-missiles) Saudi Arabia would be likely to supply…are probably going to be of limited effectiveness against some of the modern Russian combat aircraft operating within Syria.

Even if the militants were equipped with the latest SAMs, US manufacturers have to offer, Russian planes and helicopters, in any case, have the countermeasures systems capable of neutralizing them.

Russian Mi-24 helicopters in Syria have been equipped with the latest airborne defense system, the President-S, which entered production last year, developed by the Samara-based Ekran Scientific Research Institute, the military observer noted.

Aircraft equipped with the President-S are INVULNERABLE to contemporary MANPADS; even if we are speaking about a helicopter hovering in the air in the immediate vicinity of the shooter, the missile targeting it will miss. The complex is capable of countering not only IR/UV-guided missiles, but radar-guided ones as well.

We wish to re-publish and submit to you all this very interesting series of reports (from 11 February to 4 March 2016) and analyzes on the valuable work carried out, behind the scenes, by skilled Russian military advisers.
Their technical and professional experience and military assistance have identified serious deficiencies and incorrect techniques habits by the Syrian Army in the use and maintenance of the armaments.
Because it is from a proper use, storage and maintenance of the weapons, vehicles and ammunition that often depend the fate of the battles.
By correcting the faults and updating the Syrian military operators it was possible to give them better skills and confidence in operations on more fronts and against an enemy well armed with the most sophisticated weaponry, coming from the Western powers…via Ottoman-Gulf regimes…
Once again thanks: to the Russian Armed Forces and their military advisers.
(SFP-WP Newsroom)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

[by SouthFront] ~ When asked about Russian operations in Syria, most people would immediately mention the Russian fighter-bombers, attack aircraft, combat helicopters, and cruise missile volleys.
Few would mention the quiet work behind the scenes that was performed by a large group of highly dedicated professionals who helped transform the Syrian military that was on the brink of defeat, into a force that could once again begin liberating Syria’s territory.
Without denying the importance of the air campaign, the air strikes alone would not have turned the tide of the war.

The Syrian Army Air Force carried out sorties during the last 24 hours against Daesh terrorists’ gatherings in al-Qaryatain town and Mahasa village cross road to the east of Homs city.

The sorties resulted in destroying positions and vehicles of Daesh mercenary-terrorists, and killing of a number of its members.

The Syrian Army Air Force on Tuesday carried out sorties against Daesh mercenary-terrorists’ gatherings in Beit Dogheim, and al-Jafra to the east of Deir-Ezzor, killing a number of terrorists and destroying their vehicles, some of which equipped with machineguns.

A military source clarified that an army unit carried out accurate blows against dens and fortifications of Daesh in the neighborhoods of al-Hamidyeh and al-Roshdyeh, destroying many hideouts and hotbeds and killing many of the terrorists.

ALEPPO ~ The Syrian Army advanced in the Eastern part of Aleppo province and encircled over 800 ISIL terrorists, leaving them with no way out, an acute shortage of ammunition and food supply, military sources said Sunday.

“The Syrian Armed Forces, in very successful operations, imposed full control over Um Tureikiyeh in the vast plains of al-Safira, in which over 800 ISIL terrorists that were fighting the government forces at the strategic city of al-Safira and its nearby village of Tal Aran found themselves encircled for the first time in this war,” the sources said.

“The 800 ISIL terrorists have no outlet to retreat and they have no available supply lines; this means, they will either surrender to the Syrian Armed Forces or fight till the death,” the sources added.

Reports said on Saturday that the Syrian army alongside popular forces gained full fire control over ISIL’s lines of supply in the Eastern part of Aleppo province.

Almost the entire supply lines of the ISIL terrorist group have come under the control of the Syrian government forces, and actually the militant group’s members operating in the Eastern part of Aleppo have been trapped with no way to scape.

LATTAKIA ~ The Syrian Army and popular forces pushed the militant groups back from more territories in the Northern part of Lattakia province and took back several villages and heights near the border with Turkey.

The Syrian army and the National Defense Forces (NDF) stormed the militant groups positions in the mountainous region of the coastal province of Lattakia and imposed full control over the villages of Hamrat, al-Deirouneh, Nahashba and Mahshaba, Ruweisat al-Kitf, Ruweisat Taloukshi and Ruweisat Wata al-Sindianeh and a number of strategic heights.

The militant groups left behind a number of dead and wounded members and fled the battlefields.

Deputy Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri has issued a warning to countries seeking to tailor the situation in Syria in accordance with their political ambitions.

Saudi Arabia and Turkey have said they could dispatch ground troops to Syria.

Such a deployment would come on top of Saudi Arabia’s widely-reported ideological and financial patronage for the Takfiri militants tyrannizing Syria and Turkey’s provision of a supply route for these mercenaries.

In response to the question of whether there was a potential for direct military confrontation between Iran and Saudi Arabia in Syria in case Riyadh does deploy ground forces to the crisis-hit country, Jazayeri said:

“We will definitely not let the situation in Syria proceed in line with trouble-making states’ wish to enforce their policies. We will make necessary decisions in the due time.”

“Via which place do these terrorists travel to and from Syria other than Turkey? From where do they receive support other than reactionary Arab countries?” Jazayeri asked.

“From my point of view, there is a political solution to Syria’s crisis; but hegemonic powers are not after a balanced and just political solution,” Jazayeri said.

Syrian Army spokesperson, General Ali Muaeeb, announced in a statement to the press in Damascus that the Air Force of the Syrian Arab Army has conducted “193 air sorties in the period between December 10-16, hitting 563 terrorist targets” all over Syria.

Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov confirmed that 212 militant positions had been hit in the latest round of Russian airstrikes, while speaking to press at the Hmeymim Airbase in Latakia.

Several cruisers, frigates and corvettes were docked at the port of the city of Tartus, where the Russian navy has a Material-Technical Support Point to support its vessels in the region.

Following the Syrian Army’s successful mission to recapture the Marj al-Sultan airbase on the outskirts of Damascus: exclusive first images inside the liberated military facility.

Troops from the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continued their operation that has seen them take control of the al-Nuba mountain in the Latakia province, with the assistance of allied militias.

The Syrian General Mohammad Issa, one of the top commanders of the Syrian army has threatened to target France’s aircraft carrier directly if he dares to approach the Syrian coast.

“The announcement made by France to involve the nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, in military operations in Syria will force the country’s army to directly target the aircraft carriers”.

“These strikes target Syrian oil wells and all this is done without the approval of Damascus government, which for us means the violation of our sovereignty”.

“The Western coalition has targeted so far no position or camp of Daech or other terrorist groups. Through its strikes France seeks to bomb our oil wells as revenge against Damascus who did not give to France any oil concessions”, insisted the Syrian General Mohammad Issa.

The remote Syrian village of Ghmam, has just been liberated from mercenaries, terrorists and jihadists of various denominations [more money they receive from abroad, more names for their gangs of murderers and thieves] by Syrian Arab Army and National Defence Forces, cutting off the supply routes for terrorist gangs from Turkey.

Units of the Syrian Arab Army have taken control of the mountains on northern of Latakia, near the Syrian-Turkish border, cutting off the supply routes for terrorist gangs from Turkey.

The Syrian Air Force pilots are equipped with many modern Sukoi Russian-made, but some of them prefer to fly with Vietnam-era jets and to use some equipment which dates back to the 1960’s, but is still very reliable, easier to fly and to maintain than their modern counterparts.

Russia has deployed missile defense systems to Syria to protect its military forces and equipment stationed in the Arab country, the head of the Russian air force says.

Referring to the potential threats against Russian military forces and equipment in Syria, Colonel General Viktor Bondarev said fighter jets could be hijacked in countries neighboring Syria and used to attack the Russian forces.

“We have taken into account all possible threats. We have sent not only fighters, attack aircraft, bombers, and helicopters, but also missile defense systems because any sort of force majeure situation may occur,” Bondarev said in an interview with Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya.

“For example, the stealing of a warplane in a neighboring country with Syria or having to return fire. We need to be prepared for that,” he said.

When the aircraft was passing along the Turkish border, the onboard equipment set off an alarm indicating the plane was being targeted by some kind of air defense system,” Bondarev told the Russian daily.

“The pilot had to take a split-second decision to perform an anti-missile maneuver. Well, [the plane] went a little bit into Turkish airspace. We acknowledged it frankly,” he added.

A Russian fighter jet was forced to enter Turkish airspace in early October while performing an evasive maneuver against a surface-to-air missile system, the commander of Russia’s Air Force said.

“Our fighter jet was on a combat mission in Northern Syria in very dense cloud conditions. When the aircraft was passing along the Turkish border, the onboard equipment set off an alarm indicating the plane was being targeted by some kind of air defense system,” Commander-in-Chief Viktor Bondarev told Komsomolskaya Pravda daily.

Aleksandr Grushko, Russia’s envoy to the Western military alliance, said:
“The impression is that the incident in Turkish airspace was used in order to include NATO as an organization into the information campaign unleashed in the West, which perverts and distorts the purposes of the operation conducted by the Russian air forces in Syria”.

Lieutenant Hussein Al-Ahmad, undercover agent at the service of his Homeland and Syrian Military Intelligence.

A former Syrian Army officer that defected to the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in Dara’a province in 2012 has returned to Damascus after completing his three-year-long spying mission for the Syrian Military Intelligence.

The Army officer Lieutenant Hussein Al-Ahmad was originally captured by the Free Syrian Army in 2012 – he became famous for publicly defecting to the aforementioned rebel group following his capture; this led to Lt. Ahmad’s acceptance among his fellow defectors.

Lt. Ahmad would participate in a number of battles in 2014, including the rebel victory at Tal Al-Harrah in the Western parts of Dara’a province; this prompted the Free Syrian Army’s Central Command to appoint him as commander of Dara’a tribes.

Saudi-born Sanafi al-Nasr, senior al-Qaeda leader and strategist, was killed in an airstrike in Aleppo province in Syria.

A source revealed that al-Nasr along with two other Takfiri terorist group’s members, Saudi Abdul Malik al-Jazrawi and Moroccan Abu Yasir al-Maghrebi, was reportedly killed by an airstrike in Aleppo province in Syria.

Al-Nusrah Front has released a photo showing a car struck by an airstrike in Al-Dana, West of Aleppo. The terrorist group has also published a picture of the bodies of the dead Takfiri militants, but has not verified their identities.

Abdul Muhsin Abdullah Ibrahim Al-Sharikh, known as Sanafi al-Nasr, was born in the Saudi town of al-Shaqra in Riyadh. He led al-Qaeda’s “Victory Committee”, which is responsible for developing and implementing al-Qaeda’s strategy and policies. Al-Nasr was an important power broker and a strategic thinker in al-Qaeda terorist group in Syria.

The Syrian armed forces and the Hezbollah fighters, with Russia’s air backup, have started large-scale clean-up operations to haunt the remaining members of the militant groups across the Aleppo province.

The General Command of the Army and Armed Forces announced in a statement on Monday that the Army and Armed Forces established control over the Free Zone in Aleppo and 13 towns and villages and one area in Hama and Lattakia provinces.

The statement said that the various divisions of the Army and Armed Forces, and under concentrated cover fire from the Air Force and artillery and missile units, army units made remarkable achievements in its operations in the northern countryside of Hama province.

The General Command said that the Armed Forces established control over the towns and villages of Kafar Nabouda, Atshan, Qubeibat, Maarakaba, Oum Harten, Sekik, Tal Sekik, Tal al-Sakher, and al-Bahsa in the northern countryside of Hama province.

The statement said that operations on both sides of the administrative line between Hama and Idleb provinces resulted in the elimination of many terrorists, the destruction of a number of armored vehicles and ammo depots in al-Tamane’a, Sekik, and Tal Sekik, in addition to five machinegun-equipped vehciles three US-made TOW missile launch pads in Oum Harten.

The General Command said that operations also resulted in destroying terrorists’ command centers and weapon and ammo depots in Ma’aret al-Nu’man, Saraqeb, Haish, Muhambel, Tal Tera’I, east and north of al-Tamane’a, west of Sekik, south of Khan Sheikhoun, al-Latamneh, and Habbit, and Kafar Nabouda, while 20 vehicles transporting terrorists, weapons, and munitions were destroyed and large amounts of terrorists’ weapons, equipment, and ammo were seized east of Tal Sekik.

The Russian Air Force carried out 64 sorties that hit a total of 55 targets for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Syria during the past 24 hours.

29 field camps and ammunition depots of the terrorist organizations in Hama were destroyed in the air strikes, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

An ISIS fortified facility and two command headquarters were also destroyed in Aleppo, the Ministry added.

Meanwhile, the Syrian army air force and artillery killed more than 125 terrorists from Jabhat al-Nusra and the ISIS within a wide-scale military operation against the terrorist organizations in the northern countryside of Hama province.

A military source told SANA that the army air force conducted intensive strikes against positions of Jabhat al-Nusra and the ISIS terrorists in the villages of Atshan, al-Taman’aa and Tal Skeak in the northern countryside of the province.

The source added that 50 terrorists from Jabhat al-Nusra and the ISIS were killed in the strikes and hundreds of them were injured, in addition to destroying a number of their armored vehicles and a store of ammunition.

Meanwhile, 75 of Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists were also killed and a number of their machinegun-equipped vehicles and Tao rockets launch pads were destroyed in bombardments carried out by the army artillery against their dens in Um Haratain village in the northern countryside.

NOTICE TO READERS

These infos are not intended to be shocking or to glorify violence in any way. These articles/images/videos are for educational purposes only, for documenting and try to explain the backdrop of a historical ruthless and bloody war, whose characteristics and details are routinely distorted and smothered by the dominant media.